Lubbock state senator files bill to reduce number of playoff teams

Published 8:34 am, Thursday, December 11, 2014

Midland High's Courtney McMaryion pulls in a reception after beating Lee High's Dedrick Strambler and runs it in for a touchdown Friday night at Grande Communications Stadium. Tim Fischer\Reporter-Telegram

Midland High's Courtney McMaryion pulls in a reception after beating Lee High's Dedrick Strambler and runs it in for a touchdown Friday night at Grande Communications Stadium. Tim Fischer\Reporter-Telegram

Photo: Tim Fischer

Lubbock state senator files bill to reduce number of playoff teams

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Lubbock Republican State Senator Charles Perry filed a bill on Thursday to limit the amount of teams the University Interscholastic League can take from four to two teams during the playoffs.

In a release from Perry's office, he cited the "watered down" competition and also the costs that school districts can have when traveling for playoff games as major reasons for filing SB 237.

Currently, the UIL takes four teams in team sports, and in Class 4A through Class A football, the districts are split during realignment, where four teams go from each district.

"This not only devalues the hard work of the first and second place teams in a district, but it costs our school districts thousands of dollars that could be in the classroom, " Perry said in the statement. "The cost is especially high in rural areas. Some schools in my district are spending upwards of $8,000 per playoff game."

Perry's release said that 56 percent of the 1,209 teams that play high school football in Texas made the playoffs last year. If Perry's bill becomes law, 32 percent of the teams would make the playoffs.

The bill would only affect football, baseball, volleyball and basketball.